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CodeHerd vs Backbencher

A side-by-side comparison built from both listings. Blank cells mean the company has not given that detail; we never guess.

CodeHerd compared with Backbencher
DetailCodeHerd logo CodeHerdBackbencher logo Backbencher
What it doesRun your AI coding agents side by side Local code intelligence that shows its evidence
StageNot given Not given
FoundedNot given Not given
Based inGB Not given
Pricing modelFreemium Free
PricingFree: up to 3 sessions, unlimited projects, Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Muse Code and custom commands, draggable panes, git worktrees, in-app browser, notifications. Pro: £10/month or £96/year (save £20%), includes everything in Free plus unlimited sessions, Herd HQ, voice dictatio Not given
Key features
  • Run multiple CLI agents in parallel panes side by side
  • Git worktree support with automatic branch management per agent
  • Keyboard-first interface with customizable layouts
  • Voice dictation transcribed on your Mac
  • Page annotation and attachment to prompts
  • iOS Simulator integration
  • Automatic layout and session restoration on relaunch
  • Supports 50 languages with 53 registry IDs
  • 16 SQLite tables for symbols, source bounds, imports and relationships
  • 16 MCP agent tools for code analysis
  • AST-based code indexing
  • Incremental re-indexing with automatic freshness tracking
  • Call-graph analysis
  • Respects .gitignore and .bbignore files
  • Shows file, line and evidence for every answer
  • Local storage with no cloud required
  • Optional embedding provider integration for semantic search
What makes it different
  • Bring your own subscriptions with no API keys or credentials stored
  • No accounts, no telemetry, no cloud required
  • Works offline for 7 days after last licence check
  • One Pro licence works on up to 3 Macs simultaneously
  • Every answer includes file location, line number and the relationship walked to get there
  • Fully local operation with no cloud requirements
  • Open source under MIT license
  • Free to use with no paid plans or cost
Free planNot given Not given
Open sourceNot given Not given
PlatformsNot given Not given
Public APINot given Not given
Community votes00
DR (Domain Rating by Ahrefs)2 +1 (up) since last checkNot checked yet
Trust Flow (Majestic)00
Citation Flow (Majestic)00
Referring domains (Majestic)00

4 details filled in for both companies.

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